Halloween Barmbrack (or Tealoaf)

My Favourite, not just for Halloween

But ...Who will get the ring? :)

This is a very rich bread, it’s traditionally served sliced and buttered for Halloween.

If you want to add in some charms, like a ring or coins, just be sure to wrap them well in parchment paper first before adding them to the batter!

If I don't have all the dried fruit, I just use raisins and sultanas. For kids, I'll leave the Whiskey out and replace it with cold tea.

Ingredients

100g  raisins
100g  sultanas
100g  currants
50g glacé cherries, halved or quartered (or stoned, chopped dates) I used roughly chopped walnuts

50g candied peel or the zest of 1 lemon
250ml hot, strong black tea (2 teabags)
50ml whiskey or Cointreau
1 egg, lightly beaten
225g self-raising flour
200g light brown sugar
1 level teaspoon mixed spice

Method 1. Put the raisins, sultanas, currants, cherries and candied peel in a large bowl, one that’s big enough to accommodate all the ingredients later on. 2. Pour over the tea and whiskey or Cointreau and allow the fruit to soak for at least 30 minutes or even overnigh. 3. When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).  4. Line a 450 g (1 lb) loaf tin with parchment paper or a loaf tin liner. 5. Add in the beaten egg, flour, sugar and mixed spice to the fruit and tea mixture.  6. Stir well until everything is just combined.  7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin.  8. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours or until a skewer comes out clean.  9. Leave to cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Tip: This keeps very well in an airtight tin.